Checklists by Year

One year down and three more to go. Keep working hard and pushing for your goals.

Freshman and sophomore year are both too early to start prepping for standardized tests, but there are some things you can do to put your best foot forward for college applications!

Challenge Yourself

• Take honors/AP/IB classes
• Assume leadership roles
• Take the PSAT

Get Involved

• Clubs + Sports
• Work
• Volunteer

Research

• Colleges to apply to
• Possible majors/careers
• Scholarships

Read

• Improve your grammar
• Develop your writing skills

Fall:

• Visit the College & Career Center
• Evaluate your course load and find out how much you know about college planning
• Choose a challenging class schedule
• Increase commitment with club/team
• Perform community service
• Take school-wide PSAT (usually in October)

Winter:

• Continue to explore colleges & careers
• Volunteer - earn community service
• Add to your high school resume
• Add to your Raise.me account by keeping track of your accomplishments

Spring:

• Choose challenging classes for 11th grade
• Take your PSAT 10 (usually in April)
• Plan for summer community service or internships
• Take FSAs and EOCs
• Take AICE & AP exams

Summer:

• Look into and/or take SAT/ACT prep classes
• Perform any summer reading
• Community Service
• Take an assessment to figure out what you want to do in the future.
  • Big Future by College Board
  • O*Net Interest Profiler
  • Princeton Review (you will have to sign up for an account to see your results)

Half way to graduation.  Time to get focused on your future.  This is the last opportunity to move and improve your GPA!

Fall:

• Visit the College & Career Center
• Evaluate your course load and find out how much you know about college planning
• Choose a challenging class schedule
• Increase commitment with club/team
• Perform community service
• Start creating a list of scholarships you may be qualified to apply for. Find in your Google Classroom or in the College & Career Center.
• If you want to be qualified for National Merit Scholarship, register and take PSAT (on-campus and usually in October)
• Explore colleges (virtual/in-person visits) and narrow choices to 10 colleges

Winter:

• Begin the College Board Opportunity Scholarship (December)
• Volunteer - earn community service
• Add to your high school resume
• Add to your Raise.me account by keeping track of your accomplishments
• Keep up grades! These will be important for all college applications
• Take SAT or prep for SAT

Spring: 

• Choose challenging classes for 12th grade
• Plan for summer community service or internships
• Take school-wide SAT (usually March/April)
• Take FSAs and EOCs (if applicable)
• Take AICE & AP exams (if applicable)

Summer:

• Common App and Coalition App opens! Work on your essays!!
• Look into and/or take SAT/ACT prep classes
• Take SAT again to increase scores
• Start applying for scholarships
• Perform any summer reading
• Community Service
• Take an assessment to figure out what you want to do in the future.
  • Big Future by College Board
  • O*Net Interest Profiler
  • Princeton Review (you will have to sign up for an account to see your results)

This is your last year! It is very exciting and goes by quickly...college applications and all of the senior festivities from Prom to Grad Bash and finally, Graduation. Finish your high school career in style by setting yourself up for the next chapter of your life. Finish strong!

Fall:

• Visit the College & Career Center
• Time to start applying to colleges
• Have your college essays reviewed.  Make an appointment with Ms. Garofalo
• Apply for the Bright Futures Scholarship
• Continue commitment with club/team
• Perform community service
• Start applying for scholarships you may be qualified to apply for.
• Find in your Google Classroom or in the College & Career Center.
• If you want to be qualified for National Merit Scholarship, register and take PSAT (on-campus and usually in October)
• Explore colleges (virtual/in-person visits) and narrow choices to 10 colleges

Winter:

• Continue engaging in the tasks for the College Board Opportunity Scholarship 
• Volunteer - earn community service
• Keep up grades! These will be important for all college acceptances.
• Let College & Career know which colleges you have been accepted to!

Spring:

• Take any outstanding FSAs and EOCs
• Take AICE & AP exams (if applicable)
• Make your decision for which college you want to attend no later than May 1
• Get involved with senior events!
• Watch deadlines!
• Graduate!

Summer:

• Get ready for your next step, whether it is college, tech school, gap year, military, or job.
• Wishing you the best of luck for the next chapter of your life!